The management of firearms manufacturing firm Armscor Global Defense, Inc. (AGDI) has assured that necessary assistance and support will be extended to the families of two employees who died in an explosion at the company’s factory in Barangay Fortune, Marikina City, on Monday afternoon.

Initial investigation by the Marikina-Philippine National Police (PNP) revealed that the three victims were making bullets when a component known as a primer suddenly exploded.

In a statement on Tuesday, Martin Tuason, chairman, president, and CEO of AGDI, expressed his sympathies and condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased.

“All the necessary assistance and support is being extended to the family of the deceased. The third employee who was present during the explosion has been discharged from the hospital and is now at home with his family,” he said in a signed statement.

Tuason affirmed that AGDI is fully cooperating with the PNP and other relevant government agencies to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the incident.

“We would also like to take this opportunity to reiterate that in all its decades of operation, AGDI has been fully and strictly compliant with all applicable international standards and industry practices, along with local regulations as well as inspections conducted by the PNP,” he said.

He added that every employee is regarded as a valued member of the AGDI family, “and as such, their safety and welfare are, and have always been, our top priority.”

“That is why we are leaving no stone unturned in getting to the bottom of the unfortunate accident. To this end, rest assured that the company will be providing updates regarding the situation as they come,” he said.